Stagger Lee

The night was clear

And the moon was yellow

And the leaves came tumbling down

I was standing on the corner

When I heard my bulldog bark

He was barking at the two men who were gambling in the dark

It was Stagger Lee and Billy

Two men who gambled late

Stagger Lee threw 7

Billy swore that he threw 8

Stagger Lee told Billy,

"I can't let you go with that.

You have won all my money

And my brand new Stetson hat."

Stagger Lee went home

And he got his 44

Said, I'm goin' to the barroom

Just to pay that debt I owe

Go Stagger Lee

[Instrumental Interlude]

Stagger Lee went to the barroom

And he stood across the barroom door

He said, nobody move

And he pulled his 44

Stagger Lee, cried Billy

Oh, please don't take my life

I've got three little children

And a very sickly wife

Stagger Lee shot Billy

Oh, he shot that poor boy so bad

Till the bullet came through Billy

And it broke the bartender's glass